Define a sequence of polynomials as follows: let a1=3x2−x, let a2=3x2−7x+3, and for n≥1, let an+2=25an+1−an. As n tends to infinity, what is the limit of the sum of the roots of an ?
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Solution
By using standard methods for solving linear recurrences, we see that this recurrence has a characteristic polynomial of x2−25x+1=(x−21)(x−2), hence an(x)=c(x)⋅2n+d(x)⋅2−n for some polynomials c and d. Plugging in n=1 and n=2 gives 2c(x)+21d(x)=3x2−x and 4c(x)+41d(x)=3x2−7x+3 Subtracting the first equation from two times the second equation gives 6c(x)=3x2−13x+6, so c(x)=63x2−13x+6. As n grows large, the c(x)2n term dominates compared to the d(x)2−n term, so the roots of an(x) converge to the roots of c(x). Thus the roots of an(x) converge to the roots of 3x2−13x+6, which by Vieta's formula have a sum of 313.
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